LOCATION: CAPTAIN BONNEVILLE ROOM

Former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once famously described the states as “the laboratories of democracy.” This session will explore the role state legislative action played in establishing the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), as well as discussing how local and state action is fostering a new generation of genetic and privacy bills. Discussion will focus on the nature of politics, the roles of legislators and staff, potential avenues for socio-political change, and strategies for political messaging to reach multiple audiences (from message development to deployment). Special attention will be given to recent experience with the introduction of the Genetic Bill of Rights legislation in Massachusetts and Vermont and additional privacy legislation in California. The session will also reflect on long-term political planning for federal action and discuss how Tarrytown Meeting participants can become involved in current state-level campaigns for policies that will extend genetic privacy protection.